Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight from Roosevelt Field, Long Island to Paris in 1927 forever changed the course of aviation history.

From this ambitious start, the history of Long Island, NY is filled with advancements in aviation.

In the 1960s Long Island’s Grumman Corp. built the Lunar module for the Apollo program. In the 1970s and 80s Grumman Corp. aircraft dominated the Naval aircraft inventory. Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye is the Navy’s most advanced early warning aircraft, while their F-14 Tomcat is probably the best Navy fighter ever built.

Track the history of flight from its earliest beginnings, up to the space age, at Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation museum. Here, you can also see one of Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis planes, which he personally flew during several public appearances after his famous flight in the original plane. Or visit the American Airpower Museum, where you can walk among some of aviation history’s greatest machines.

Then visit Sand’s Point Preserve’s Falaise mansion, where Lindbergh penned his famous novel, We, and where he stayed following the tragic kidnapping of his son, an event that shocked the world.